Chapter 8

Azi, relying on the fact that she held my weakness in her grasp, acted with utter impunity. In front of outsiders, she put on a show of respect, but once the doors were closed, her true colors emerged.

Anything tasty or useful in my courtyard, she would take at her leisure.

The moment she stepped into my room, the Yunpian cake from the kitchen went straight into her mouth. The Shu Brocade granted by the Mistress, she snatched up without a word and carried off to her own quarters.

I said nothing, only smiled.

As the saying goes: To bring about one’s ruin, let them first become rampant.

Once her material desires were sated, her thoughts turned to carnal ones-her eyes landed on Shen Yunian.

Shen Yunian had been away on business in Fu County for half a month. When he returned, clad in an ink-colored brocade robe, traces of travel still clinging to him, his brows remained deep and handsome, his features refined and otherworldly.

Azi gazed at him with infatuation, spring lingering at the corners of her eyes.

From then on, she donned a peach-red ruqun, painted her face thickly with makeup, and always seized some excuse in my name to block Shen Yunian’s path, angling for a chance to speak with the handsome young master.

Unfortunately, Shen Yunian had no interest.

Distraught, she came to me: “I order you, I want to marry the Eldest Young Master, think of a way.”

I was feeding Shen Yushu some jujube cake in my arms, and truly wanted to roll my eyes at her.

Seeing my silence, she gave a cold humph, pinched Shen Yushu’s cheek, her voice as sinister as a viper:

“In the past, those old rogues just loved to snatch up these tender little children. Break their legs, dig out an eyeball, throw them onto the streets-so pitiful, so good for business.”

“Good Miss, do you want to make money?”

After speaking, Azi cast me a provocative look.

She really was capable of such things.

Shen Yushu didn’t understand, giggling foolishly: “Yushu wants to make money! She’ll buy lots of candied hawthorns! One for Big Brother, one for Second Sister!”

Azi laughed slyly: “Call me sister-in-law.”

Suppressing the urge to strangle her, I said, “But, I’m just an adopted sister picked up halfway-he doesn’t listen to me…”

Azi pulled out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve: “This is the finest aphrodisiac-I don’t believe he could withstand it.”

“The banquet next month is the perfect opportunity.”

I recognized this drug; it was the most potent kind from the brothel-a man who swallowed it wouldn’t even recognize his own mother, and would be as ferocious as a boar.

She truly was ruthless.

Her eyes curved into a smile, her fingers elegantly poised as she spoke: “Once I become the Young Lady, sister-in-law will surely find you a good match.”

I pressed my lips together, baring my small tiger teeth in a smile as I replied, “Sister is so thoughtful. I’ll wait for Azi-jie to become my sister-in-law.”

“We’ll be even closer, and the Shen Family will be ours.”

“Sisters, on the same path!”

Azi twisted her waist as she walked out, deliberately taking mincing steps, trying to imitate the airs of high-ranking Mistresses, but her affectation was obvious.

I laughed inwardly.

This fool had laid all her thoughts bare-wasn’t she just handing me the knife herself?